~ Poets Pub

Open Link Night ~ Week 84

Welcome to the pub word mongers! It’s no secret I love music and use it frequently when writing to quiet the outside world. If I’m being totally honest, like poetry, I use it frequently to hide from the outside world. And like poetry, the genera, style, form…doesn’t really matter.

Recent new adventures have led me deeper into the world of indie music, and like us wanna-be poets, it is a world that relies on community and relationships. Where would your pen have stalled without the support of your peers? Music has been my go to when “peers” were non-existent. The power of the lyrics, the message in the words and the desire to “write like that” has kept me bleeding the ink to pages even when I had no one willing to listen. “Freak on a Leash” is my personal theme song…this could explain much 😉

Do you write to music? Has it saved your soul? Kept you going on those days you thought you couldn’t? Do you rock a theme song, a sound track, a full blown concerto? What’s pumping through your headphones tonight as you settle in to hang with some of the most amazing wordweavers on the web?

Personally…I’m about to get down with the sickness…let’s crank it up and make some music.

Happy OpenLinkNight!

Here’s how to play along:

Post a poem to your blog. We’re totally in free-flow tonight…write what you want, share what you want.

Copy the post address and click the Mr. Linky button below.

Here you will be requested to enter your name and the exact post address. Click submit…and you’re in.

Once posted, revisit Mr. Linky to read the work of the other brave pens sharing with us. This is the most vital part of the dVerse Experience!

Share, comment, like, love! We are community. Show the hearts that laugh, cry and bleed with us every week the love and support they deserve. We operate on poetic karma…here is one place where you truly will get back what you put in.

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121 thoughts on “Open Link Night ~ Week 84”

ha yeah..let’s make some music… when i was a teen, music was more important than anything else.. the only thing…can’t listen to music while i write or comment cause music always wins…so… let’s get that party started…happy OLN everyone and see you out on the trail.. and thanks for hosting tash

Even half-deaf, I’ve always heard the music. I’ll be constantly whistling (even while writing) and people say, “What the hell is THAT?” I’ll tell them the tune and they’ll say, “Really? Sounds different.” They don’t recognize harmonizing parts and guitar fills I play. That way with poetry, too, right Tash? We all play our own tunes. That spirit makes this joint special! Have a great evening, Natasha and all! 🙂

I can’t write when someone is singing words, but I’m often inspired by or even become fixated on a phrase or sentence from a particularly gifted songwriter. Sometimes enough to put said lyric as a quote before the poem. My current favorite lyric is from The Shins, their Simple Song contains the line:

Hi today’s post is really the one about place but ran out of time! Again very little time to do other then write and post occasionally so apologies if I don’t get back to you. Wife’s daily hospital treatment starts next week but we have another potential health treat still to be resolved.

I love music, though I don’t write it, cannot play an instrument, and really shouldn’t sing except in the shower and large crowds. But I have music playing most everywhere I go. These days I prefer music that encourages. This weekend I was encouraged to try my hand at a sestina to share today. I wasn’t sure I was going to finish it in time, but I did! Now it’s time for some lunch, maybe a little music, and some poetry reading. Peace, Linda

For all my effort…I’ve yet to master anything close to being able to play an instrument…a few riffs on this…a few beats on that…but I do love to pretend I can play the drums…everyone else will tell you I should stick to lunch and poetry! 😉

My taste in music so varies…but music stays with you for so long. Random lyrics remain in my brain from my youth. Now I long for music without words because it’s just so crowded in my mind! Either way, I hear you!

Thanks as always for this wonderful forum. As for music, I worked as a musician (symphony oboist) for many years. But alas, I have no talent for musical composition.

However, I do write the occasional song parody lyric. Almost anything can set me off — even the Hokey Pokey, which inspired my That’s What The Law’s About. Here’s my first verse:

“You have to dot those i’s.
You’ve got to cross those t’s.
You have to seem so wise.
You must justify those fees.
And if you’re smart and lucky
You will turn your case around.
That’s what the law’s about….”

Mad, you are on such a roll–love that! Heard a comedian do a bit on AC/DC singing the hokey pokey–it was hilarious 🙂 I can totally see you playing oboe in a symphony!! You never cease to amaze–I played flute but only in college and mostly in marching band Ha! Haven’t played in years, but still love the thought of it

I used to be able to work with music on pretty loud. Nowadays, If I’m reading or writing I need it quiet. Sometimes small snippets of what I’ve been reading recently seep into my poems – there was definitely a Metallica inspired part in All Fur Coats for example.

Music is still a pretty big part of my life though; like writing I find it gives a way of releasing emotional energy. I play guitar a bit too – strictly rhythm, no flashy licks for me.

i once had to go for three weeks to a medical treatment with my three kids to a hospital at the north sea and i took my guitar with me…met a woman there who was actually an opera singer and actor, so we went to the park, playing the guitar and singing and we had such fun… the kids are still talking about this…and they were quite small back then… oh and she gave me singing lessons in the evenings in deserted hospital ailes…ha…maybe there’s a poem in this..smiles

Wow, first time i’ve actually managed to get online this early for a tuesday in weeks. Forgot how quickly the pub fills up, very cool, should be a great couple of days of poetry as usual. Thanks for hosting Tash.

Marilyn Manson and Distrubed take me back to head-banging and the catharis or playing music so loud that the neigebours complain… I can’t listen to music while writing but nearly always do while designing, sometimes throws up new avenues to explore.

After 30 plus years in nightclubs, piano bars, and touring, you’d think I’d be sick of music… but I tell ya, a strong cup of coffee or a cool Wisconsin microbrew and Jobim on the turntable (yes, I’m THAT old), and I am ready set go hand me the paper and pencil. Love everyone’s music choices. Sorry I’ve been absent… depression. Even Jobim can’t cure that, but it’s nice to keep me company! Amy

It always amazed me that Cohen’s poetry fit so well into musical form; really enhancing the words. At some of the open mic performances in Tacoma we had a sax player or flutist do riffs between lines; it was exhilarating. Took wife to Seattle for the Boeing Museum of Flight this morning, so arrived 2 hrs into OLN, and almost hit #84. How cool is that?

Putting out a piece about writing prompted by Brian’s question earlier. Music is wonderful. Don’t know if anyone has this weird experience where they write a poem and almost hear the music and rhythm that could go along with it? Only happened a couple of times but cool when it happens 🙂

It’s been a long time since I dropped by. I haven’t been writing much lately either. But tonight I will read spend some time reading. 🙂

I can write to instrumental music only…sometimes. I do love music and to me words are not just symbols on a page, but also sounds. I write for the ear and not for the page…I have to. Even when I read I have to say the words in my head as I go. Flat on the page they don’t mean as much. It does make for slower reading though. Okay…time to enjoy some lovely sounds from you all.

I, too, am driven by music in my life and I often tie it into my poetry. Like this intro into Open LInk Night. I’ve posted an older poem tonight as dental work still has me in some pain so hope you enjoy. Cheers!

Thanks Brian! Had a crown put in and today had to go back to get it adjusted. Feeling a bit better, though, but tired. Will have to get into looking at everyone’s posts but perhaps tomorrow as I had a late night so need to get some shut eye…as they say.

I’ve arrived late, as usual, and so happy to be here. I grew up with a grandmother who was a concert pianist, played the piano and organ myself and am so grateful. I think music flows in our poetry, consciously or unconsciously. Thanks for tending the bar tonight, Tash!

Sorry about sadness of song, but sometimes I have to give in to the muse in the shadow, especially in February. Maybe a cheerier song next time Tash. I’ll find something to play of daylight and maybe make you smile.

I can’t listen to music and write…I’m too distracted by it. Music has an enormous impact on my life though. I can be incredibly moved and inspired by it…as I’m sure most people can. Thanks for the intro this week, Tashtoo.

Hi Tash – I am going a bit crazy here as going through a big move – a major part of it tomorrow, so living in the middle of boxes. It’s very stressful. I have a very silly poem -the music coming from me may be me banging my head against wall. Take care, k.

Music is a very important part of my life, but it’s not necessarily what inspires me to write. I become very particular when I’m in that half-crazy creative space needed to write, and mostly I prefer silence. In fact, I become quite cranky if there’s not enough of it.

Didn’t post this week but popping in to visit and read for a little while just the same. Natasha, loved your welcome! I like all kinds of music from Celtic to country, contemporary to good ol’ classic rock and roll, but I mostly find myself writing when everything is quiet and still and I can hear my inner voice. A happy OLN to all! 🙂

Phew – glad I made it here in time to post – it was relatively close but this is a prompt that speaks (or maybe I should say sings) to me…However, I came back to check it out again before I continued commenting on poems – So far every one I’ve gone to hasn’t seemed to have much to do with musical muses really (or it could be I’m misinterpreting the poems – wouldn’t be the first time) – and I’m such a literalist, my poem goes there in a very linear fashion.

Also, I wanted to say that music has quite literally (there’s that word again) saved my life from time to time. I have certain “mixed tapes” – yes, I still own a cassette player (still own a turntable actually – did finally retire my 8-tracks when I stopped driving a school bus part-time and no longer had access to a player) that I can’t junk, even if I have the songs on CD or my iPod.

And there are songs that are perennial favourites – do other people have that – songs that never go out of fashion for them – a forever hit list that you can play if you’re happy, or ones to play if you need to be pumped up, or if you’re sad and need to be sad? I’m interested to know how other people’s collections measure up in this regard…

Are there songs that never grow old for you?

I must say, my tastes are eclectic and even if I love an artist, I usually can’t stand a whole CD or album by one person at one sitting (which I’m sure says more about me than the artist) but I do love hours of my favourites mixed together – anytime.

As is evidenced by my poem – Janis Ian is one of my long-time favs… how about you?